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Rafael Benitez rules out Jonjo Shelvey leaving Newcastle

No takeover developments as yet, says Newcastle boss

By James Dale

Rafa Benitez was in no mood to discuss transfers ahead of Saturday's game at Watford

Rafa Benitez was in no mood to discuss transfers ahead of Saturday's game at Watford

Jonjo Shelvey will not be leaving Newcastle in January, manager Rafa Benitez has said, despite a self-imposed gagging order regarding transfers.

Fulham's Tom Cairney was set to be offered in a swap deal for Shelvey, according to recent newspaper reports, but Benitez quashed any deal, adding that Newcastle are "not ready to sell anyone" at the moment.

"No, no chance," said Benítez, when asked if Shelvey would be allowed to leave - after earlier claiming he had decided "not to talk about the transfer window".

Jonjo Shelvey has not played since December 1 due to injury

Shelvey is in line to return for Newcastle for Saturday's trip to Watford, said Benitez, who is also currently without South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung at the Asian Cup.

"Jonjo is an important player for us," Benitez added. "Him and Ki can technically pass the ball well and keep it, they give confidence to the rest of the team. I hope Jonjo will be as important to us for the rest of the season as he was last year."

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"We are in the bottom half of the table and we will be there, so we have to stay as high as possible in this situation and if we can get the points we need to stay up - after we can see how high we can go. But the main thing is to stay up."